New to herbs. Bergamot and borage.

**Scarlet** · 18-05-2014, 06:30 PM

I use mace instead of nutmeg - I buy it from the supermarket as a spice. I've never grown it.
I love the blue flowers of borage but I don't eat it. I tend to stick to the main herbs for growing. Typically what the kids will put up with. Parsley, mint, coriander ( this self seeds in my garden) rosemary, thyme, lemon thyme, chives, garlic chives and usually several types of basil. Lime basil being my favourite.

**RosiePosie** · 18-05-2014, 06:48 PM

Bergamot I've never grown. Borage I'm fond of for it's beautiful blue star flowers. The leaves are quite prickly but have a crispy cucumberish flavour, you can shred them and add to salads they say - but I've never tried .. because prickles.

The flowers can be frozen in ice cube trays, or crystalised for topping pretty cakes (just dip in egg white and caster sugar and dry in the airing cupboard) or dotted over salads.

Otherwise, borage is reputed to have medicinal qualities; the old phrase "borage for courage" describes it's supposed effects and I believe that in Roman times it was used to inspire soldiers to action. I've heard first hand anecdotal reports of it having a positive 'uplifting' effect on mood when eaten, though can't confirm that with personal experience (again - prickly.)

I've seen a recipe for borage used in a Pimms concoction. That I would happily try, no prickles!

**Trix** · 18-05-2014, 06:54 PM

I believe mace is the outer covering from a nutmeg - both parts are used as spices. I don't know anything about growing them though...

**RosiePosie** · 18-05-2014, 07:01 PM

Originally posted by Trix View Post

I believe mace is the outer covering from a nutmeg - both parts are used as spices. I don't know anything about growing them though...

I suspect the OP is growing 'English mace' (Achillea ageratum) which a totally different creature to the outer casing of Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans.) I have some English mace growing in my herb bed too, but have yet to try it out in anything as it's just getting started.

**RosiePosie** · 18-05-2014, 07:14 PM

Originally posted by robmarston View Post

I'm about to embark on my first herb garden. I've got rosemary, which I know how to use, along with sage and mint. Today I bought bergamot and borage and was wondering how people grow and use them as I've never grown herbs before. Also, do you recommend other herbs that are ideally perennial, easy to grow and useful? I saw lots at the garden centre and had never heard of many. What do you do with Mace for example?
Any herb experts out there got some good ideas where to start, what is good and what it's not worth wasting my time on?

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Rosemary, sage and mint are a good basis for a culinary herb bed.

I'd definitely get Chives; perennial, tasty, no hassle. They're great in scrambled eggs, quiche, cottage cheese, dips and anywhere you'd use an oniony flavour without the heat.

Thyme also, especially if you like chicken which it's often paired with. Another perennial that isn't any trouble.

Oregano (aka "pot marjoram"), use it in tomato dishes and pasta sauces. Perennial, just keep it in a sunny patch.

I'm personally quite fond of 'Leaf Celery' aka Parcel (there's another thread on here I've posted to about that.)

Think about the food you like, and what kinds of flavourings you enjoy? You're right about there being loads of herbs out there to choose from and it can get confusing. I'd get a set of around half a dozen first - plenty to play with for now - and then expand from there.

**Trix** · 18-05-2014, 07:19 PM

Originally posted by RosiePosie View Post

I suspect the OP is growing 'English mace' (Achillea ageratum) which a totally different creature to the outer casing of Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans.) I have some English mace growing in my herb bed too, but have yet to try it out in anything as it's just getting started.

Oh, I had no idea there was another type - thanks for clarifying. I did wonder how (if) it would grow here!

**Scarlet** · 18-05-2014, 07:21 PM

Originally posted by RosiePosie View Post

I suspect the OP is growing 'English mace' (Achillea ageratum) which a totally different creature to the outer casing of Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans.) I have some English mace growing in my herb bed too, but have yet to try it out in anything as it's just getting started.

I grow achillea (I call it yarrow) I can't imagine using it for anything in food, it smells disgusting - I've never heard it called English mace. Although I did try using the yellow flowers as a dye several years ago. Love the plant though, vert tall, needs staking with a great yellow flower.

**RosiePosie** · 18-05-2014, 07:37 PM

Originally posted by Scarlet View Post

I grow achillea (I call it yarrow) I can't imagine using it for anything in food, it smells disgusting - I've never heard it called English mace. Although I did try using the yellow flowers as a dye several years ago. Love the plant though, vert tall, needs staking with a great yellow flower.

English mace is in the same family as yarrow, but it's not the same plant. I think it looks quite similar when fully grown with the feathery foliage, though I've read it has 'creamy' coloured flowers. I'm curious to try it.

**veggiechicken** · 18-05-2014, 07:47 PM

Originally posted by RosiePosie View Post

I suspect the OP is growing 'English mace' (Achillea ageratum) which a totally different creature to the outer casing of Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans.) I have some English mace growing in my herb bed too, but have yet to try it out in anything as it's just getting started.

I have some growing too - not sure that I'll ever use it as a herb though!

**robmarston** · 18-05-2014, 08:25 PM

The mace was English mace and it sounds like the yarrow you're referring too. Came as a surprise to me and I wondered what you'd put it in. There was lots of different marjorams and oreganos and mints. Didn't know where to start! Curious about the bergamot though as it's alleged to reduce cholesterol. Does anyone use dill and fennel for anything? Chives are a great suggestion.

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**Scarlet** · 18-05-2014, 08:44 PM

I grow a bronze fennel but have never eaten it. Dill I use in fish dishes. If you like chives you could also try garlic chives they really are very useful.

**veggiechicken** · 18-05-2014, 08:49 PM

Lemon balm - invasive like mint - but the smell is so refreshing

**Snadger** · 19-05-2014, 06:04 AM

Bergamot is one of my favourite herbs. Beutiful flowers and the leaves are nice added to a cup of tea to make poor mans 'Earl Grey' A creeping perennnial it makes clumps similar to mint.

Borage is an annual I've grown this year from seeds collected from a neighbours plants last year. The flowers were beutiful and the bees loved them.

**JohnAtk** · 19-05-2014, 11:28 AM

Borage is a very useful plant. It can be planted as a companion of tomato plants, to protect them from tomato hornworm and moths that lay eggs in them. Borage plants and tomato plants both have bristly leaves, which confuses the moths. Borage is edible, but I haven't tried it, too. Otherwise it is used in medicine.
Bergamot will attract bees and other wildlife to your garden, as it is used as a honey plant. Tea made of it is very effective against colds and flu.

If you want you can read more about some types of herbs in this infographic, called 15 herbs that grow in shade: There isn't info about borage in it, though.

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New to herbs. Bergamot and borage.

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